Dallas shortbread queen makes pretty treats in new bakery storefront

Dallas shortbread queen makes pretty treats in new bakery storefront

A baker known for her signature shortbread cookies has opened a storefront. Le Gourmet Baking is from baker Becky Nelson and is open in its Park Cities stomping grounds at 5601 Lovers Ln., half a block west of the Dallas North Tollway.

According to a release, Nelson already sells her shortbreads at Neiman Marcus and Royal Blue Grocery, and does custom orders for organizations and companies for every kind of event or special occasion.

The storefront makes the cookies available as a retail item, and also sells take-out soups, sandwiches, tartines, quiches, salads, and a la carte sides such as 3-cheese pimento cheese spread.

A divorced mother of three grown children, Nelson founded the company as Le Gourmet Valet in 2012. It was a cottage-industry meal-delivery service in northwest Dallas, primarily for families in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow.

Having the Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten as a role model, she developed a modified version of Garten's shortbread cookie as a signature treat.

The cookies are 2 inches in diameter and 3/4-inch high, and are made with European butter and less sugar than the usual sweet.

She was offered the opportunity to become a cookie vendor for Trader Joe's Texas stores, but instead pursued Neiman Marcus, who featured her in their holiday catalog in 2016. Six of her designs are sold year-round on NeimanMarcus.com.

The bakery is located in what was previously a restaurant called Texas Scratch Kitchen. Visitors can see Nelson and her team busy at work behind a glass wall separating the front of the shop from the baking area.